One tower AP No. 16  of the 132 kV Single circuit of the crucial Wokha – Sanis  Transmission Line collapsed in the early hours of 27th April 2024 near the Riphyim Old area under Wokha District. During an inspection by the department along with District Administration, it was discovered that the tack-welded Nuts & Bolts of the tower members were cut and removed resulting in the collapse of the tower.  This indicates a clear intention to steal the tower parts leading to disruption in the power supply by miscreants. It was also found that the adjacent towers ( Tower numbers 15 and 17 )  are on the verge of collapse as the bracings of the towers have been stolen, informed the power department to the media.

It is pertinent to mention that, this particular 132kV Kohima-Wokha-Sanis-Doyang transmission line was constructed for evacuation of power from the Doyang HEP and is an important element of the State Power Transmission Grid with connectivity to the state capital. Unfortunately, the line could not be commissioned for many years due to theft of materials and damage to several towers at various locations between Wokha and Doyang. The department with great hardship, difficulty and struggle restored the line in 2016 incurring huge expenditure by the state government in the process, stated the media release from the department.

With the collapse of this tower, the department cautions that in the event of any line fault or power outages on the 132 kV Transmission line between Dimapur – Kohima – Karong (Manipur), the capital Kohima along with the whole of Kohima & Tseminyu districts  & upper range of Wokha District including Wokha Town will plunge into total/ complete blackout. Further, the power supply would be adversely affected in the Upper Range of Wokha District & Tseminyu District in case of any breakdowns/outages between the Kohima – Wokha Transmission line.

It may be noted that this is the second such incident this month, where on the 20th of April, the 66 KV Double Circuit  Transmission Line Tower collapsed near Pungro Town due to the theft of tower parts and disrupting the evacuation of power from Likhimro Hydro Electric Project. While the department officers & staff were working on a war footing to restore the collapse of the first tower, this incident have put the department in a very critical situation. While the department is committed to providing a reliable & stable power supply to the consumers despite many constraints & limitations, strongly expresses dismay at such act of sabotage to public property depriving the public of essential services.

The Department has already lodged an FIR with the police and earnestly appeals to all village councils concerned, CSOs and all stakeholders to cooperate and assist the Law enforcement agencies in booking the culprits at the earliest. Meanwhile, the department is putting in all efforts to restore the line at the earliest and therefore seek co-operation from all concerned.